Jaguars focus on 'finishing strong' in offseason conditioning program

Jaguars quarterback David Garrard concentrates while lifting weights as the team begins its offseason strength and conditioning program Monday.

Hip-hop music blared over the speakers as Jaguars players wearing weighted vests dangled from high bars, slowly lowering themselves, grunting the whole time.

Tweaked-up intensity seemed to be the general feeling seeping from the walls at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on Monday, the official start of the Jaguars' offseason conditioning program.

All but one player on the roster - cornerback Don Carey was excused because he's taking classes at Norfolk State to complete his degree in building construction technology - attended the start of offseason conditioning.

Even linebacker Clint Ingram, who hasn't yet signed his restricted free-agent tender, worked out Monday.

"After last season and the four-game skid of how we finished, I don't think anyone wants to take anything off," said Jaguars strength and conditioning coach Luke Richesson. "If anything, there were guys wanting to do another [rep]. I had to taper them back and rein them in. There are a lot of guys with a bad taste in their mouths, me being one of them. It's Day 1 and we want to make sure we are seeing this all the way through and finishing strong."

To accomplish that goal, several players mentioned the start of offseason conditioning as the foundation.

"It starts now," safety Gerald Alexander said. "All the stuff on the field pretty much takes care of itself when you get this stuff in right now. Nobody is happy with the way we finished the season, given the opportunity we had to get into the playoffs. So that's the motivation, to finish all things: to finish in the weight room, finish all meetings, finish games."

Jacksonville also needs to complete the task of revamping its struggling pass rush.

The Jaguars ranked last in the NFL in sacks (14) in 2009, and tied for fifth-worst in league history.

Before last season, the lowest sack output for the team under coach Jack Del Rio came in 2003 (24). The Jaguars had at least 35 sacks in four of Del Rio's seven seasons, including 47 in 2005.

"We know what coach Del Rio has in his mind, and we just have to fulfill his expectations," said defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, who is coming off a standout rookie season in which he was the team's only defensive lineman to start all 16 games.

Recently acquired defensive end Aaron Kampman described "a great buzz" permeating the weight room during his first official workout with the team.

"There are two ways you can approach football: One is you can scheme people," Kampman said. "Or you can say, 'Hey, we're going to line up and we're going to beat them fundamentally and be aggressive.' I've been in that school of thought for a long time and that kind of seems like what we're going to be this year."

the author said,"There are two ways you can approach football: One is you can scheme people," Kampman said. "Or you can say, 'Hey, we're going to line up and we're going to beat them fundamentally and be aggressive.' I've been in that school of thought for a long time and that kind of seems like what we're going to be this year."

Or they can continue to follow their owner's strategy. Do nothing, whine, cry alot, keep the same bad coach, etc...

The yellow pages now works globally so the jags can find a mover for when they are forced to go to LA.